Clothes laundering machine having a lint filter



Oct. 16, 1962 A. M. ANDERSON CLOTHES LAUNDERING MACHINE HAVING A LINT FILTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 25, 1960 INVENTOR. And/aw M. Anderson BY W A W Oct. 16, 1962 A. M. ANDERSON CLOTHES LAUNDERING MACHINE HAVING A LINT FILTER Filed June 23, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. Andrew M flnderson HAVENG The present invention relates to clothes washing machines of the tumble action type and more particularly to filtering mechanism for the same.

Clothes washing machines of all types require that some means be provided for arresting dirt and lint removed from the clothes by the cleaning process and insuring that the removed matter be constrained from redeposition on the clothes being cleaned. One method of accomplishing this filtering is by employing a recirculation of the water in the tub through a readily accessible filtering screen. It is to this method that the present invention applies.

It is therefore a primary object of my invention to provide in a washing machine of the tumbler type, a recirculatory filtering system.

:It is a further object of the invention to provide a filter positioned below the dynamic Water level but above the static water level and which as a result of the combined effect of these levels produces a pressure differential which induces circulation through the filtering apparatus.

Further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a combination clothes washing and drying machine embodying the present invention, the view being partially broken away to illustrate the details of the machine.

FIG. 2 is a front sectional view taken along the lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view of lower right-hand tub portion of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view of the lint filter portion of FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, we have shown therein a domestic laundry machine comprising a combination washer and dryer. The machine is of the horizontal axis type. That is, it includes a clothes basket or drum 1 which is rotatable about a generally horizontal axis. The basket 1 is mounted within an outer imperforate tub 2, and the cylindrical side wall of the basket is provided with a plurality of perforations or holes 3 in order to allow communication between the basket and the tub. The basket is rotatably supported from the tub 2 by a horizontally extending shaft 4 which is mounted in an elongated bearing 4.1 hung from the rear wall of the tub structure. The shaft 4, as well as supporting the basket 2, also serves to drive it during the operation of the machine. The basket is loaded and unloaded in the usual manner through an opening 5.1 in the front wall thereof which is aligned respectively with openings in the tub and the outer appearance cabinet 5 of the machine. A hinged door (not shown) mounted on the appearance cabinet 5 seals around the tub opening so as to close off the tub 2 during the operation of the machine.

The tub 2 and the appearance cabinet 5 are both mounted on a suitable base structure 6 at the bottom of the machine. The tub, specifically, is mounted thereon by means of a plurality of brackets or arms 7 which are mounted on upstanding plates 8 fixedly attached to the base. In addition to the tub and the appearance cabinet, the base 6 also mounts the basket drive means. The drive means comprises a motor 9 connected to a multispeed transmission mechanism 10 which drives the basket through a belt 11. The belt 11 turns a basket drive pulley 12 which is mounted on the outer end of the basket drive shaft 4. The transmission assembly is shiftable between different gear ratios so that the basket 1 may be driven at one speed for tumbling clothes and at a second higher speed for centrifugally extracting water from the clothes.

As mentioned above, the machine illustrated is a combination washer-dryer. That is, it proceeds through a cycle of operations, first washing and damp-drying the clothes and then, if desired, completely or fluff-drying the clothes. The clothes basket 1 is driven at a slower speed both for washing the clothes and for tumbling them during the drying operation and is driven at its higher speed for extracting both wash and rinse water from them by centrifugal extraction. The machine during its sequence of operations is under the control of a suitable timer motor operated sequence control 13 which energizes and deenergizes the various electrical components of the machine in a predetermined sequence.

In order to supply water to the tub 2 for Washing and rinsing purposes, the machine is provided with suitable hot and cold water supply connections 14 controlled by suitable solenoids 13.1. These supply connections 14 discharge across an air gap into the funnel 14.1, and the funnel 14.1 discharges into a hose or conduit 15 which leads to a sump 16 mounted underneath the bottom of the tub, as can be seen in FIG. 2. The inlet water entering the sump 16 first fills the sump and then rises into the tub proper. The bottom wall of the tub 2 is provided with a depressed surface 18 having the drain port 17 therein. The sump 16 in addition to serving as a means for filling the tub also serves as a means whereby the dirty water is drained from the tub at the conclusion of the washing and rinsing operations. The water is drained from the tub into the sump through the opening or drain port 17 and then is discharged from the sump through a hose to a drain pump (not shown). From the drain pump the water is passed out of the machine through a suitable waste line. It will be understood, of course, that the drain pump like the other electrical elements of the machine is under the control of the sequence control 13.

The water level in the tub during the washing operation is controlled by a pressure sensing device of the type well known in the art, which energizes solenoid operated water valves which, in turn, admit hot or cold water from the supply connections to the funnel 14.1. It will be understood, of course, that the sensing device controls the water valve solenoids 13.1 only when suitable circuits are closed by the timer operated sequence control 13. The water level in the tub during the washing operation is such that the lower portion of the perforated basket 1 is submerged whereby the basket dips continually into the water as it rotates. For example, in a size of the illustrated machine suitable for domestic use having a clothes basket twenty-six inches in diameter, the water level in the tub during washing is about five inches above the bottom of the basket.

Referring now to the lint filtering mechanism of FIGS. 3 and 4, there is shown the clothes basket 1 rotatable normally in the counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow 31. Within the basket 2 there is further shown a removable door 32 which normally forms part of the basket wall and may be hinged or otherwise removably secured to the basket. In FIG. 3, the door 32 is shown pivotable about hinge 33 and partially open. The door when open provides access to the filtering mechanism 34 which includes a support structure having rear positioning legs 35 and front support wall 36 which extends the length of the filter. Within the structure, a mesh screen- 3 filter 37 is secured to fully cover the exposed top surface of the filter structure. The filter structure rests within an embossed filter chamber 40 which extends laterally out- ;wardly from the tub wall and as can be seen in FIG. 4, the filter structure extends throughout the full length of the emboss. Within the embossed area there is provided a pair of spring clips 41 secured to the inside of the tub wall in any permanent manner. Each spring clip extends freely downwardly to fit over the filter rear upright wall 42 and holds the filter firmly in place by means of its natural spring tension. Below the filtering area a recirculating drain tube 43 extends from an opening 44 in the lower wall of chamber 40 to a second opening 45 in the tub rear wall in a vertical position either above (not shown) or below (as shown) the normal tub static level indicated by the numeral 46.

It should be noted that FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show the 'static water level 4 6, the dynamic water pattern level 47 and also the access door 32 in the open position. This combination of events could not occur at one time since the dynamic water level is a result of the skin friction and surface layer induced by the rotation of the basket and the lifting of the clothes within the basket. This rotation, of course, would not occur with the inner door of the wash basket open and it can readily be understood that this combination has been shown in the drawing to simplify the drawings necessary for full disclosure.

The operation of the invention is as follows: After clothes have been inserted in the clothes basket and the front door is closed, water is supplied to the tub through the previously described water inlet system and fills the tub to a depth of about five inches above the drum bottom. This establishes what is called herein the static water level. When the desired amount of water has been supplied to the tub, the incoming water 'is shut oif and whatever additives are to be included are or have already been added to the water. The wash basket then begins to rotate in the counterclockwise direction under the control of sequence controller 13. As the basket rotates, a head of water is formed along the side of the basket in the direction of rotation. This head of water 47 is induced by what may be called skin friction of the rotating basket or the surface layer of water adhering thereto. The effect of clothes being lifted may also add to the eifect of this dynamic water head. This dynamic head as shown in FIG. 3 is above the level of the filter structure 34 and as a result water will flow over the front upright wall portion 48 of the support wall 36 and onto the mesh screen.

As shown in FIG. 3, the walls 42 and 48 extend substantially above the level of the horizontally disposed screen 37, whereby the walls of the filter device, the screen, and the end walls of the chamber form a lint trapping pocket which extends the full length of the chamber. Wall 42 is held tightly against the chamber wall by the clips 41, and prevents water and lint from passing to the drain 44 without filtration. Wall 36 is substantially a continuation of the adjacent curved wall of tub 2, whereby to facilitate the flow of wash liquid to the filter even under conditions in which the dynamic liquid level is substantially below that illustrated.

The clothes in the basket will be lifted by the ribs 50 up the sidewall of the basket and will be dropped into the pool of water in the generally known tumble action fashion indicated'by broken arrow P. This tumbling loosens dirt and lint from the clothes. The loosened dirt and lint become entrained in the wash liquid, of course. All lint entrained in the pressure head of water will be caught on the upper surface of the screen as the water filters through. The lint-free water will flow downwardly from the screen through opening 44 in the recirculating tube 43 to the rear opening 45. Since rear opening 45 is below the dynamic Water level in the tub, water will flow through the pipe due to the positive pressure diflerential induced by the water pressure head. This dynamic head and the re sulting pressure differential through recirculating pipe 43 i will be maintained as long 4 as there is the normal amount of water in the tub and the wash basket continues to rotate in the counterclockwise direction. This constant pressure diiferential maintains a constant flow of liquid through the lint filter and the recirculating system and also keeps the lint caught by the filter plastered against the lint screen. In this way entrapped lint is maintained away from possible contact with the clothes and is removed from recirculation in the system. Further, the front and rear upright walls 48 and 42 of the filter structure impede the backwash into the wash liquid of any entrapped lint on the lint screen 37.

At the conclusion of the washing operation the basket is rotated at a high speed in the counterclockwise direction to centrifuge a portion of therwater from the clothes. Simultaneously, drain port 17 is opened and the water begins to drain from the tub lowering the static water level and increasing the dynamic pressure head of the as yet undrained water. This condition increases the plastering force on the lint against filter and further keeps the lint from redepositing on the clothes in the basket. After all the free water has been removed from the tub, the basket continues its centrifugal spin-out for a timed period after which the heat-drying process occurs. The present invention has no functional effect during drying operation. However, one problem can arise during the drying period. In the drying period, the basket is rotated and warm air is circulated by a suitable blower. It is conceivable that air currents could flow into opening 45 and up the water recirculating tube 43 in the reverse direction. This air pressure acting on the lower surface of the mesh screen could tend to dislodge lint entrained on the filter screen 37. To circumvent this possibility, it has been found preferable to provide suitable solenoidoperated valves to close off opening 45 at this time in the cycle. This valve may operate in any known manner under the control of the timer mechanism to close oflt' opening 45 at the start of the drying cycle and maintain the opening unobstructed the remainder of the time. With recirculate tube 43 closed ofi, no air pressure diiferentials sufficient to remove the entrained lint can be generated below the lint filter and as a result entrapped lint will remain on the filter until physically removed. After the conclusion of the drying operation, the dried clothes may be removed from the wash basket. Then the basket access door 32 may be removed for cleaning of the lint filter. The filter rear wall 42 is removed from the holding tension of clip 41 and the filter structure is removed through the open basket access door 32 and out the front door for cleaning. The screen once cleaned is then returned to its position in chamber 40 and the machine is then ready for the next washing operation. While there has been described what is at present considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein, and it is intended to cover in the appended claim all such modifications as fall Within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is: In a clothes washing machine, an imperforate substantially cylindrical tub, a perforate clothes-receiving basket disposed within said tub for rotation therein about a horizontal axis,

said tub and said basket having in their respective front wall portions mutually registering openings through which clothes may be placed in said basket, means for supplying washing liquid to said basket to a static level above the bottom of said basket,

means for rotating said tub continuously in one direction whereby the rotating basket will create an up wardly directed Wave of wash liquid within said tub outwardly of said basket, the crest of said wave 63- tablishing a dynamic liquid level substantially above the normal static liquid level,

a portion of the cylindrical sidewall of said tub being 5 outwardly embossed to form an axially extending of said front wall to the base of said rear wall wherefilter chamber which will be occupied to a substanby to define with said front and rear walls an tial depth by said wave of wash liquid, said chamber elongated lint-entrapping pocket disposed above said openly facing said basket and the bottom of said chamber bottom wall and occupying the length of chamber being above the said static liquid level, 5 said chamber, conduit means communicating between the bottom of spring clip means fixed to a wall of said chamber and said chamber and said tub below the said static releasably engaging with said filter device rear wall liquid level, to hold the same snugly against the adjacent chama lint filter device removably disposed within said her wall,

chamber, said device comprising a front impcrforate 0 and a hinged panel in said basket Wall to afford access wall extending upwardly and rearwardly for the full to said filter device for the removal thereof from axial length of said chamber and an upright impersaid chamber, said hinged panel being accessible iorate rear wall in surface contact with the radially through the clothes loading opening of said basket. outermost wall of said chamber along the full length thereof, the said front wall commencing at substan- 15 References Cited in the file of thls P tially the intersection of the bottom wall of said UNITED STATES PATENTS chamber and the adjacent cylindrical wall of said tub and constituting a short continuation of said 1532048 Dofland 1925 cylindrical wall 2,962,886 1011113911 Del 1960 filter means extending laterally from a median portion 20 29907O8 July 1961 

